French President Emmanuel Macron joined President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday for a formal diplomatic engagement, where the two leaders discussed pressing foreign policy issues, including Russia and Ukraine. The meeting concluded with a news conference where both presidents took questions from reporters.
Some of Trump’s remarks during the event sparked mockery, while others drew laughter from Macron. One moment that caught widespread attention was Trump’s unexpected tangent about Fort Knox.
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“We’re actually going to Fort Knox to see if the gold is there. Because maybe somebody stole the gold. Tons of gold,” Trump said, prompting laughter from Macron. The comment followed a recent statement from Elon Musk, who questioned, “Who is confirming that gold wasn’t stolen from Fort Knox? Maybe it’s there, maybe it’s not.”
Trump’s remark led to a flurry of reactions online. “You’re laughing? We’re going to Ft. Knox to see if the gold is there because maybe somebody stole the gold, tons of gold, and you’re laughing??” asked Lawfare’s Anna Bower. “Amazon executives pitching a Goldfinger remake,” joked journalist Jeremy Fassler.
St. Paul Pioneer Press reporter Jace Frederick humorously posted a fake conversation with his wife. “Me: ‘gonna go to the bank and see if our important documents are still in the safety deposit box.’ Wife: ‘Why?’ Me: ‘because maybe somebody stole them,'” Frederick wrote.
“They faked a bomb threat at an undisclosed school. Then when all the police were occupied they stole the gold. …..Oh wait, that’s Die Hard with a Vengeance,” quipped criminal defense attorney Will Conway.
During another moment in the news conference, Macron contradicted Trump’s previous assertion that Ukraine bore responsibility for the war with Russia. Last week, Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, “You should have never started it, you could have made a deal.”
Macron, however, firmly stated, “Mr. Putin is the aggressor.” Huffington Post’s S.V. Dáte reacted, “Mr. Putin is not going to like this at all. Wonder if Trump will be recalled to Moscow for consultations.” Macron also fact-checked Trump’s claims about European financial support for Ukraine.
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Trump insisted that Europe had merely loaned money to Ukraine, while the U.S. had given more substantial aid. “Europe is loaning the money to Ukraine. They get their money back,” Trump stated. Macron gently touched Trump’s arm before correcting him directly. “No, in fact, to be frank, we paid. We paid 60% of the total effort,” Macron said.
Podcast host Brian Tyler Cohen noted, “Macron fact-checking him to his face.” The grassroots political organization Really American highlighted Trump’s reaction, stating, “Watch Trump’s embarrassed expression. This is how it’s done.” Artist Candee Corliss added, “Macron just demolished Donald Trump in the Oval Office while supporting Ukraine.”
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